Did you know that America’s 24 million small businesses

• employ more than 52% of the private work force?
• generate more than 51% of the nation’s gross domestic product?
• provide approximately 75% of the net new jobs added to the economy?
• represent 99.7% of all employers?
• represent 96% of all US exporters?

The Lee College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) wants to see small business in our area continue to grow and prosper. What better way to offer our encouragement and congratulations to owners of small businesses, who diligently pour their hearts and souls into their business than to give them recognition? The Lee College SBDC Advisory Board, consisting of small business owners and those who serve small businesses, host an annual event to honor small businesses in the Lee College SBDC service area.

We are excited to announce an awards program - the Monument Awards for Business Excellence. This program will include four categories - Retail, Service, Manufacturing/Construction and Rising Star. Any business that has been in operation less than two years is eligible for the Rising Star category. There will also be one overall winner chosen from all categories, the Monument Award Small Business of the Year. To be eligible, the business must meet the Small Business Administration’s size standards for a small business. The standards vary by industry, and they can be found at SBA’s web site at www.sba.gov/size; or for specific questions, you can contact the SBA Office of Size Standards. Any small business in the Lee College service area is encouraged to participate. This area includes Baytown, Mont Belvieu, Highlands, Crosby, Liberty, Dayton, Anahuac, Winnie, Hull, and Hardin.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. The SBDC is a non-profit organization, and in order to service a program of this magnitude, we are counting on businesses to support these efforts by underwriting a portion of the costs.

Thank you for your consideration in teaming up with the SBDC Advisory Board in making this a special event for our business community. If you have any questions, please feel free to call (281) 425-6309.